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Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has appealed for broad-based cooperation to actualise the Ibom Deep Seaport project, disclosing that investors who had previously withdrawn their interest after initial engagements have renewed discussions on the multi-billion-dollar venture.
Speaking during a dinner hosted for members of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in Uyo at the weekend, the governor cautioned against allowing the politics of location to undermine the project, describing the seaport as a strategic economic asset whose benefits transcend sectional interests.
“I met with investors in Paris who had earlier indicated interest in the project, pulled out, but have re-indicated interest, and I strongly appeal that the politics of location should not be allowed to jeopardise the project,” Eno said.
The governor said his administration was deliberately creating alternatives to oil through investments in aviation, healthcare, tourism and transport infrastructure, noting that the benefits would become more apparent in the coming years.
He announced that Ibom Air would commence twice-weekly international flights to Ghana from June 28, while discussions were ongoing with Ethiopian Airlines to begin flights to Addis Ababa.
Eno also disclosed plans to travel to Canada in July to receive another Airbus A220 aircraft to strengthen the airline’s regional operations.
According to him, the state will on Tuesday unveil the Ibom International Hospital with 24 specialist departments, while 20 of the 50 compressed natural gas buses ordered from Turkey have arrived in Nigeria ahead of deployment.
He further reaffirmed Akwa Ibom’s support for President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the APC, attributing improved fiscal inflows to support from the Federal Government.
“For us in Akwa Ibom State, we stand behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We stand ready to deliver him, and Akwa Ibom is solidly behind President Tinubu, distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio and the APC,” he said.
